Easy learning with a helmet
Last reviewed: 28.11.2021
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In one of the US research centers, experts were able to "download" information to the human brain, thereby speeding up the learning process. The researchers said that the experiments were successful and the technology could become available to all comers in a few years.
In their work, scientists decided to use a certain type of knowledge for the "download", namely the ability to control the aircraft. In the beginning, they received data from the brain of 6 professional pilots, who at the time of "recording" flew on the flight simulator.
Further on the volunteers, who had not previously studied and did not know how to fly the aircraft, put on a special device - a helmet with the supplied electrodes, through which the brain stimulation took place. It is worth noting that the volunteers were divided into 2 groups - the first actually stimulated the brain, the second - they just said that stimulation with a helmet would be carried out.
Through stimulation, scientists sought to ensure that participants had exactly the same knowledge and skills as professional pilots, with the sole exception that subjects did not undergo long training and did not receive practical experience in aircraft management.
Participants needed to land a plane on the simulator, as a result, the group that actually stimulated the brain, 33% better learned to fly the plane, in comparison with those whose brains were not stimulated.
The scientists explained that in the process of learning, there is the creation and strengthening of neural connections in the brain (neuroplasticity), in other words, the brain changes at the physical level - certain areas undergo changes at the time of obtaining new knowledge. The head of the research team, Matthew Phillips, noted that the helmet only helps to learn new information faster; To study in any case it is necessary, but this will take much less time.
The brain is a unique organ of the human body, the mechanisms of its work have not yet been fully understood. Scientists are actively working in this area, and in another research project it was found that the experience gained changes the work of the brain. Scientists noted that our brain, more precisely defined areas, react somewhat differently to objects that a person has already encountered before.
The work was carried out by researchers from Canada who, with the help of experiments, found out what kind of reaction occurs in the brain during an already familiar situation or subject. As a result, it was found that when a second collision with a certain object was repeated, a change in the functioning of the nerve chains involved in the recognition of objects occurred in the brain.
This discovery led scientists to the idea that the brain has a special area in which all the memories are stored, as well as the areas responsible for recognition.
As is known, the sensory organs transmit information to the brain - as soon as a signal is sent to the brain, the responsible for recognizing the area are activated. In the event that the brain has already received a familiar signal, the work of the nerve chains changes. As a result, the scientists confirmed their assumption, and they noted that the work done will help to develop new methods for the treatment of Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.